Engine valve



` J. F. GRACE ENGINE VALVE Filed July 14, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 5, 1925. 1,536,787

' J. F. GRACE ENGINE VALVE Filed July 14, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /03 /0 /0/ l, 2 d) 04 /21/ 39 /05 @E 94 .1- l Y @iii 9/ Patented May 5V, 1925.

UNITED s'riir-esv` PATENT oFF-ICE.

JOHNl E. enaclaor KEARNY, NEwJEnsEY, AssIGNoR 'ro woaTHrNG'froN PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, or NEW Yon-K, N. Y., AooR-roRAr-Ion or VIRGINIA..

ENGINE VALVE.,-

Appiicanon fiiea Juiy 14,

To @ZZ 'who/m, t yimg/'canoeing y Be it known thatl, JOI-IN FBG'NACE, a

citizen ofthe United States, residing at Kearny, 'county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have inventedcertain newand i `which an auxiliary valvecontrols thev ad-v mission' of `fluid to fluid actuated means i operating a main valve.

i One of the objects of "this inventionis provide a valve mechanism ot' the above mentioned type wherein all valve gear parts having motion areenclosed so as'to exclude dirt, and also to protect yattendants,thus vespecially adapting the invention for use on locomotive and marine feed pumps.

Another object consists in the inclusion of a motion translating and reducing means b etween the auxiliaryvalve and the actuator therefor', whereby the actuator may reciprocate in one plane and yet movethe auxiliary valve at a reduced speedand with smaller travel in another plane, thus avoiding the sudden reversal of the piston of the engine and the consequent shock which occurs with the usual construction of valve mechanism wherein the auxiliary 'valve is` carried or operated directly by the actuator. A

A further feature comprises simple means whereby independent adjustment of the auxiliary valve may be Y accomplished at either or both ends of' the stroke without interrupt-.ing the operation.

In the accompanydrawings, forming ya part'of this specification, there 'aire shown, by way ot illustration,` three valve 'mecha'- nisins embodying the preferred forms ofthe invention. l

In the drawings: v K Figure l is a vertical. central'ysection ot the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line 2-2 ot Fig. l. V i

Figure 2a is a detailed section similar to Figure 2 showing the passages for delivery of steam to the auxiliarycylinder ends. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line of'Fig. l.

1921.v Serial No. 484,565.

Figg: is a vertical central section ot ya inodiiied l'orin of the invention. e e

. Fig. A5 is a vertical central section of another modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view ot' the auxiliary valve shown in Fig. 5.1 r f `With reference rto the drawings: The ymain engine cylinder A receives the fluid propelled piston 10, said cylinder being 'closed by a lheard ll at one end and to which` i, y is` secured'a combined steam chest and auxilia-ry" valve chamber l2; in the steamchest l2 is located the main valve seat 13 having ports 14, 15 and lpwhich are connected with passages 17', 18 and 19 in the cylinder A and head 1l Jfor conveying steam, or other fluid, to and from the opposite ends of cylinder A and to the exhaust. n

A s ide inlet 20 inthe cylinder A conf nects with the passage 21 in the head '11,v

said passage leading to the interior of the steam; chest 12, whilethe exhaust steam leaves through the passage 19 in -the head v111. and which connects with the exhaust outlet 22 in the wall yoit they cylinderA. Thile the inlet '20 and exhaust 22 may b e located in any suitable position, it is nevertheless desirable to use the ar 1angement described ,tor the reason that it permits the complete removal of the steam chest or valve chamber 12,' aswell as the piston 10 and its rod withoutdisturbing the pipe connections to the inlet and exhaust.'

Controlling the admission of luidpressure to the ports 14, V15 and'16 of the main valve seat 13 isa main valve B whichv has movingtherewith'the piston C 'of double ended construction, the two ends being connected by thepo-rtion whiclrincludcs the -c main vslide valve B, saidpiston C working in `the valve piston cylindersC.

rMoving onthe upper face ofthe. main slide valve B and controlling the movements ofthe piston @,ewhich actuates `the main slide v alve B, is 4an auxiliary valve .D of the well known D-type the Vdirection of movementof which is transverse toy the movement olf the main slide valve B and piston C.

vThe valve seat l :tor the auxiliary yvalve n.

D` and which is on the upper kface or back of the main slide valve B is provided with suitable,l ports audpassages 2 'and' which connect with the passages 4 and 5, respectively, in the cylinder head 11 for conveying steam to and from the opposite ends of the cylinder C', whereby movement of the piston C is accomplished; a central exhaust port 6 is connected with the exhaust cavity 7 of the main slide valve B by the port or passage 8. The action of the auxiliary and main valves is or may be substantially that of other valves of this type, as, for instance, the valves of the Hall Patents, Nos. 7 37609 and 737610, Sept. l, 1903.

y lt has been customary, in previous enclosed valve mechanisms of this type, to directly connect a central tappet rod actuated by the main steam piston to the auxiliary valve. The present `invention provides a motion translating and reducing means intermediate the tappet valve or auxiliary valve actuator and the auxiliary valve, whereby the travel of the auxiliary valve is less than the movement of the actuator.

The actuator comprises a central tappet rod Q3 having a head 24 disposed within the axial recess 25 of the piston rod 26 of the piston l0, the piston 10 being secured to the piston rod 26 by means of a nut 27 which is adapted to engage with the head 24 for shifting the central tappet rod 23 on the outstroke of the piston, the end of the recess Q5 accomplishingthe shift of the central tappet rod on the inst-reke of the piston.

The actuator or central tappet rod 23 extends through a guide 28 in the form of a packing gland in the cylinder head ll and up through the stealn chest or valve chamber l2 where its end is received in a cylindrical projection Q9 which forms a guide for the. tappet rod 23. The tappet rod, on the portion thereof within the steam chest or valve chamber l2, carries a block 30 which is recessed to receive the rounded end 3l of a reduction lever 32 pivoted at 33 and comprising a long arm 34 and a short arm 35, the said long arm 34 receiving its motion through its connection or engagement with the block 50.

The short arm 85 is connected through suitable motion translatory means to the auxiliary valve D for movement thereof in which` as shown in Figure l, the arm 35 is pivotcd as at 36 to a link 37 pivoted at 3S to the rec-iprocable member 39 movable at right angles to the movement of the valve actuator or central tappet rod Q3 and guided in the depending brackets 40. In this manner a reduced speed and travel are imparted to the auxiliary valve D which is connected with the reciprocable member 39.

The stroke of the main piston is controlled by suitable means operable from the exterior of the valve casing and preferably forming a part of the motion translatory means. The regulating means shown in Figure l is a lost motion connection preferably forming the connection between reciprocating member 89 and the auxiliary valve D, which, for this purpose is provided with an opening 4l through which the valve rod 42 is passed, the one end of said valve rod being connected with the reciprocable member 39, as indi fated at 43, while the other end is received in the cylindrical projection 44 forming a guide. rPhe valve rod 4Q is threaded as shown at 45 to receive suitable lost motion members, in the present instance nuts 46 and 47, on opposite sides of the auxiliary valve D, which are adjustable to time the movement of the auxiliary valve foradjustment of the main piston stroke through suitable means now to be described. The nuts 46 and 47 are provided with teeth whereby they form pinions, as shown, These pinion nuts 46 and 47 are engaged by vertical racks 48 and 49 which are guided on pins 50 and held in the steam chest by screws 5l. Each. rack 48 and 4S) is provided with a threaded aperture 52 anc 55 respectively which receive adjusting` screws 54 and 55 having collars 56 and 57 and squared upper ends 5S and 59 to receive a wrench or key; suitable glands G0 and 6l on the adjusting screws 54 and 55 prevent leakage of steam, said glands being held in place by bolts G2 and being packed in the '7 usual manner as indicated at 63 and 63. From this arrangement it will be obvious that adjusting movement of the auxiliary valve D may be accomplished by moving the nuts 4G and 47 through the medium of their respective racks 48 and 49 which, in turn. are raised and `lowered by means of the adjusting screws 54 and It is to be noted that the faces of the nuts 4G and 47 are wider than the faces of theracks 48 and 49 thus permitting movement of the auxiliary valve D without ever disengaging the nuts from their respective racks. It will thus be evident that the auxiliary valve D may be adjusted without vinterrupting operation.

The operation of the construction shown in Figs. l to 3 is as follows:

The fluid propelled piston 10, in its downward movement, engages the nut 27 with the actuator or tappet rod 23 also moving it downwardly and the block 30, engaging the rounded end 3l of the reduction lever 32 moves said lever which, through the link 37 displaces the valve rod 42, to the left whereby the pinion nut '47 engages the auxiliary valve D moving it to the left. This movement of the auxiliary valve un covers the passage 3 thus permitting steam to pass to the right hand end of the cylinder C as viewed in Fig. 2 and thereby moving1 piston C to the left and, at the same time, port (S is connected with the exhaust cavity 7 of the main slide valve B thereby exhausting steam from the left hand side of thc cylinder IC. v Movement of the main slide valveB` to the left opens port16 for delivery of steam through passage 17 to vthe lower endet the main cylinder A for reversing movement of the piston 10 and, at the same time, port 14 connectszwith passage 15. for exhaust of steanifrom the upperend of the,V

cylinder .if-X. The opposite stroke of the main piston 10gis accomplished by theyre# described, but thev auxiliary valve D is; keyed tothe valve rod .64 as indicated at j and said valve rod is secured to the reciprocatingmember 66 supportedby brack ets 67 and which carries a transverse pin 68 mountingI a reductionlever 69, the long arm `70 ofy which hasits roller end 71. engaging the block 72 on `the actuator or central tappet rod 7 3. In this construction the lost motion connection is applied between the short arm of thereduction lever 69 and the reciprocatory member 66 and the regu# lating means therefore is, of a different form now to lbe described. The short arm of they reduction lever 69 is rounded as indicated at 74 and lies between the cam shaped walls 7 5 and 76 vof the yreciprocating member 66. Directly above the opening defined by the i cani shaped walls 75 and 76 aretwo gland nuts 77 and 7 Swhich carry adjusting stems 79 shaped at; their upper ends to receive a wrench or key, while .at y. their lower ends they carry the balls "81 and 82 and socket nuts 83 and S4` t0 which. are secured, the lost motion members shown as dependent wedge shaped members 85 and 86 swingingly heldto the said adjusting stems7 9 and 80 and lying adjacent and in contact with the inclined l.walls 75 and 76` respectively. The lost motion` members 85 and 86 are engageil by the rounded Short arm 74 of the reduction lever 69` with a slight lostmotion adjustedby movement of themembers 85 and S6 toward and away from the reciprocatory member 66 for regulation of the main piston stroke. This construction also. it will be apparent, permits,adjustment without interrupting operation. lith reference now to .'Figs. 5 and 6 the port arrangement is thesame vexcept that the inlet 20V and exhaust 22 are located in the cylinderr head 11f which carries the steam chest 12: the main slide valve construction being identicalwith that described in vconnection with the'two previous forms will not be again set forth in detail.

But the lost motion connection is applied between the motion translatory means and the auxiliary valve D "and adjusted by j means similar to that described in Figure 4. ln this construction auxiliaryvalve D is provided with two sets of angular lugs,

said sets being indicated at 87 and 88and ,y

being arranged on either kend of the said valve D. Extending intermediate the lugs of each set, as clearly shown iii-Fig. 5is a valve rod 89, the free end ot which is guided in kthe cylindrical projection 90 while the other end is received and held to a reciprocable member k91 carried in depending brackets 92. The reciprocable member has an opening 93 -on oppositel sidesv ofy which are rollers 94 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. At each side .of the valve D is a nutsuch as indicated at 95 and 96 and having inclined faces which are adjacent similarlyfinclined faces on the lugs 87 and 88. Directly above the said nuts 95 and 96 are two gland .nuts 97 and 98 which carry adjusting stems 99 and 100 shaped at their upper ends to receive a wrencher key,

while at their lowerends they are provided with. balls 101 and 102 and socket nuts 103 and 104, to which are secured the lost motion members shown as dependentk wedge shapedr members 105 and 106 swingingly held to the said adjusting stems 99 and 100. Each of these wedge shaped members' 105 and 106 are interposed between the lugsk 87 and 88 and their respective adjacent nuts 95and 96. t By movement of ythe members 105, 106 toward and .away from the nuts 95 and 96. the movement of the auxiliary valve D is properly timed forl adjustment of the'main piston stroke.

l The `reciprocable member 91 is operatedr by a valve actuator 107 which corresponds toiand is actuated in the same manner as the central tappet rod described in the other .'toi'ms of the invention, but instead of the block and reductionlever, the said actuator 107 is provided with an offset portion 10S which, as the actuator reciprocates, engages between the rollers 94 and displaces or reciprocates the member 91 thereby actuating the auxiliary valve D.

The upper end of the valve actuator 107 isguided in a cylindrical projection 109 closed by the cap nut 110.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the special construction or arrangement ot' parts shown. but that thesemay be modified widelyivithin the invention defined by the claims` I claim: f

1. In combination a valve chest enclosing a slide valve, a valve actuator, a bell crank lever havingarms ofuneqiial length and the long arm thereof connected to the valve actuator, and va lost motion connection between the short arm andthe slide valve.

moving the slide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston,- an actuator for the auxiliary valve, a

bell crank lever having arms of unequal length and the long arm thereof connected to the valve actuator,- and a lost motion connection between the short arm and the auxiliary valve.

3. ln conibii-iation, a valve chest enclosing' a slide valve, a reciprocating member for moving the valve and having a threaded por` tion, lost motion members on the threaded portion of the reciprocating member, pe ripheral teeth on the lost motion members paralleling the reciprocating member, and toothed adjusting means engaging the peripheral teeth and operated from without the valve chest.

si.. In combination, a valve chest enclosing` a slide valve, a reciprocating member for moving the valve and having a threaded portion, lost motion members on the threaded portion ot the reciprocating member, peripheral teeth on the lost motion members paralleling the reciprocating member, and racks engaging the peripheral teeth and operated from without the valve chest.

5. In combination a valve chest enclosing a main slide valve, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement ot' the auxiliary piston, auxiliary valve actuating means, lost motion members forming a part ot' the auxiliary valve actuating means and means :tor adjusting the lost motion members from outside the valve chest.

6. In combination a valve chest enclosing a main slide valve, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve, an auxiliaryv valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary7 piston, a reciprocating member for moving the auxiliary valve and having a threaded portion, lost motion members on the threaded portion of the reciprocating member, peripheral teeth on the lost motion members paralleling the reciprocating member, and toothed adjusting means engaging the peripheral teeth and operated from without the valve chest.

7. In combination a valve chest enclosing` a main slide valve, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, a reciprocating member tor moving the auxiliary valve and having a threaded portion, lost motion members on the threaded portion of the reciprocating member, peripheral teeth on V`the lost motion members paralleling the. reciprocating member and racks engaging the peripheral teeth and operated from without the valve chest.

8. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine cylinder head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine pistou, of a slide valve in the valvechest, motion reducing means moved by ,the valve actuator, and a lost motion connection between the motion reducing means and the valve.

9. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine cylinder head and a valve actuator extending through thev cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, oi a slide valve in the valve chest, motion reducing means moved by the valve actuator, a lost motion connection between the motion reducing means and the valve, and means for adjusting the lost motion connection from outside the valve chest.

l0". In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine cylinder head and a valve actuator extending' through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a main slide valve in the valve chest, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, motion reducing means moved by the actuator, and a lost motion connection between the motion 4reducing means and the auxiliary valve.

l1. ln a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine cylinder head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a main slide valve in the valve chest, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, motion reducing means moved bythe actuator, a lost motion connection between the motion reducing means and the auxiliary valve, and means for adjusting the lost motion connection from outside the valve chest.

ln a steam engine Valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine cylinder head and a valve actuator extending' through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a slide valve in the valve chest, valve actuating means moved by the actuator and including motion reducing means, and means for adjusting the valve actuating means from outside the valve chest.

13. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine cylinder head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a slide valve in the valve chest, valve actuating means moved by the actuator and including motion reducing and translating means, and means for adjusting the valve actuating means from outside the valve chest.

14. ln a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine cylinder head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head into piston, ofxa slide` valve inthe valve chest,

valve actuating means moved bythe actuator and including motion reducing means, mo-` tion translating means and a lost motion connection, and means for adjusting the lost motion connection'` from outside the valve chest. v`

l5. In a steam enginevalve gear, the combination With avalve chest mounted on the engine cylinder` head and a valve'actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve'chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a main slide valve in the valve chest, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve,l an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, auxiliary valve actuating means moved by the actuator, `and means for adjusting the auxiliary valve actuating means from outside the valve chest.

16. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the engine vcylinder head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head, into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a main slide valve in the valve chest, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, auxiliar-y valve actuating means moved my the yactu-k ator, a lost motion connection forming a. part of the auxiliary valve actuating means, and means for adjusting the lost motion connection from outside the valve chest.

17. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on thecylinder head and a valve actuator extend-` ing through the cylinder head into the valve, chest and actuated by the enginepistomof a. bell crank lever having arms of unequal, length and the long arm thereof connected. to the valveactuator, and a lost motion con-l nection between the short arm and the slide valve. I

18. In a steam engine valve gear, the com-- bination With a valve chestmounted. onthe cylinder head and a valve actuator extend-- ing through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated bythe engine piston, of'` a bell crank lever having arms of unequal length and the long arm thereof connected tothe valve actuator, a lost motion'connection between the4 short arm and the slide valve, and means foradjusting the lost mo-y controlling the movement of the auxiliary'` piston, a bell crank lever having arms of `nected to the valve actuator, a lost motion unequal length and the long arm thereof connected tothe valve actuator, and a lost motion connection between the short arm and the .auxiliary valve.

20.' In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a valve chest mounted on the cylinder head and a valve actuator extendingthrough the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated bythe engine piston, of a main slide valve, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, a bell crank lever having arms of unequal length and the long arm thereof conconnection betweenthe short arm and the auxiliary valve, and means for adjusting the lost motion connection from outside the valve chest.

21. In a steam engine valve gear, the comyso bination With a valve chest mounted on the cylinder` head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve cating member, peripheral tee-th on the lost motion lmembers paralleling the reciprocating member, and toothed adjusting means vengaging the peripheral .teeth and operated .from outside the valve chest. i

22. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination With a valve chest mounted on the cylinder head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a slide valve, a reciprocating member moved by the actuator for moving the valve and' having a threaded portion, lost motion members on the threaded portion of the reciprocating member, peripheral teeth on the lost motion members paralleling the reciprocating-member, and racks engaging the peripheral teeth and operated from outside the valve chest.

23. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a'valvechest mounted on the cylinder head and afvalve actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a main slide valve, an auxiliary piston for :moving thecslide valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, la reciprocating member moved by the actuator for moving the auxiliary valve and having a threaded portion, lost motion members on said threaded portion, peripheral teeth on the lost motion lmembers paralleling ther reciprocating member, and adjusting means engaging the peripheral teeth and operated from outside the valve chest. j

24. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination with a yalye chest momited lon the Cylinder head and a valve actuator extending` through :the cylinder head into the valve chest and actuated by the engine piston, of a main slide valve, an auxiliary piston for moving the slide Valve, lan auxiliary valve controlling the movement of the auxiliary piston, auxiliary Valve actuating means kmoved by the valve actuator', lost mot-ion members forming part oi the auxiliary valve actuating means, and means for adjusting the lost Imotion members from outside the valve chest.

In a Steam engine Valye gear, the combination with .a valve `chest mounted on the `cylinder head and a valve actuator extending through the cylinder head into the valve chest- .and actuated :by ythe engine piston, el? a slide valve, motion reducing means .moved by the valve actuator, mot-ion :translating,Y means moved by the motion reducing; means` and alost motion connection forming .a part of :the motion translatingl means.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN l1". GRAFIC. 

